Nofence

Nofence is a Norwegian company that makes GPS collars for farm animals (cattle, sheep, and goats) that discourage them from crossing virtual fence boundaries.^[1][2]

Oscar Hovde Berntsen has been working on the idea of virtual fencing, as an alternative to fixed electric fencing, since the 1990s.^[3] Nofence was incorporated in 2011.^[3] In 2016, there was a pilot project in Norway with 850 goats.^[3] The Norwegian Food Safety Authority approved the use of Nofence for goats in 2017, then for cattle and sheep in 2020.^[3] Nofence were founded in Batnfjordsøra, Norway, and is today based in Molde, Trondheim, and Oslo in Norway, with offices in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain and the United States.^[3]

The solar-powered collars play an audible tone when the animal reaches the pasture boundary, and if they continue, the collar delivers a small shock, similar to what an animal might receive from a fixed electric fence.^[4] Farmers can use a mobile app to change boundaries and monitor the animals throughout the day, and avoid over-grazing.^[2] Fenceless grazing is being supported by conservationists and farmers, particularly in sensitive areas or difficult upland areas where physical fencing would be impractical, expensive or inappropriate.^[4]

In September 2020, The Times reported that trials were being conducted at six sites in the UK, including Epping Forest in Essex.^[1]

In December 2020, Nofence stated that 17,000 collars were in use in Norway.^[2]

By January 2025, over 150,000 collars were in use worldwide, and the number of customers had surpassed 8,000.

In May 2025, Nofence featured on the farming documentary show Clarkson's Farm.^[5]